The Weekender: February 28 – March 2

CATCH a gig at the NGV, indulge at the Melbourne Food and Wine festival, attend a Symphony Under the Stars or tour a functioning Navy Vessel. Daniel Driscoll keeps you in the know with what to do this weekend.

Catch up-and-comers World’s End Press playing at the NGV International in the Great Hall or Camilla Hannanand Eamon Sprod/Slave Pianos at The Ian Potter Centre. These acts launch the free Friday Nights at Melbourne Now series in what will be a rocking way to start your weekend.

World’s End Press combine traditional instrumentation with live electronics to create intelligent, widescreen dance music. Drawing on a disparate array of influences including disco, krautrock, house, punk, techno, Jamaican lovers rock, the band have an eclectic sound that’s all their own.

The series features a different line up each week and the Melbourne Now gallery spaces across NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia will also feature special ‘pop-up’ talks.

The Melbourne Food and Wine festival is on again with events running over 17 days starting Friday, February 28. This year the program explores lakes, ponds and waterways, celebrating that finite resource that connects us all.

The festival will simmer ideas and concepts with some of the best chefs and winemakers in the world, bringing an irresistible array of palatable offerings to the table.

With so much to see, eat and drink, your best bet is to get onto the site and check out the program. Chefs have crafted menus especially for the festival, with water-themed food matched with wine to delight the taste buds.

The event contains some special highlights this weekend including the Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch, a leisurely lunch for 1,500 on the riverbank at Alexandra Park. The Acqua Panna Global Wine Experience running March 1 – 2 is a wine tasting experience run by international and Australian wine experts. If you don’t know your Merlot from your Shiraz, you will by the end of the weekend.

With exhibitions, master classes, wine tastings and food galore, there’s something on offer for everyone, whether you’re a fine diner or just love to indulge.

Dave Graney teams up with the Stonnington Symphony for what will be a spectacular show under the stars. This free event sees one of Australia’s most interesting musicians playing with the local orchestra as part of Stonnington Symphony’s annual outdoor concert.

Under the direction of Artistic Director, Roy Theaker, this year’s event will feature a superb range of symphonic music in a program designed to excite, inspire and enjoy. With a back catalog of twenty-five albums, this is yet another creative challenge for Melbourne’s beloved “cryptic rock voyager”.

Pack a picnic and enjoy an evening of music in the gardens. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never heard of the guy or don’t usually listen to classical music – this is an event not to be missed!

Public Tours on the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Yarra (IV)Sunday, March 2 (10.00am – 3.00pm); Melbourne City Marina (425 Docklands Drive, Docklands)

Image: sneetchbeach via Flickr

Do something a little different this Sunday and take a tour on a functioning Navy Vessel. As part of its port visit to Melbourne, HMAS Yarra (IV) will be open for public tours. There are no bookings available so head on down early if you want to have a good look around.

Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, will be presenting a Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) to the crew of HMAS Yarra (II) ‘for extraordinary gallantry in action off Singapore on the February 5, 1942 and in the Indian Ocean on the March 4, 1942.

The HMAS Yarra (IV) will berthed at Melbourne City Marina from 28 February to 8 March 2014.